Asking for first hand user comments on Sony FE 200-600mm: I would be using it on my a6500 but any E mount experience works for me. I already know the dimensions and weight so my...

a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

I would be using it on my a6500 but any E mount experience works for me. I already know the dimensions and weight so my interest here is in ergonomics, AF performance, sharpness at 6.3 and so on. Like most owners of that lens I would probably use it at 600 mm nearly all the time.

Please and thank you.

Here is a shot from today taken with my Minolta 500/8 AF. It's OK but not as good as I'd like. The AF managed to get this in the few seconds that the bird was near enough, etc. It's about 50% of the area of the original and was processed first with Pixelmator Pro and then the JPG tweaked a bit more with Preview. I didn't spend much time on PP because the shot is only middling good to begin with. There were 3 more shots and they are all crap. One of my goals would be more consistent performance as well as better.

I searched for shots taken with the FE 200-600mm on 500PX and the ones I saw were much sharper and I suspect the AF on that lens is much better than this.

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BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

I own both of those lenses and A7-r iii.
I use the 500mm mirror lens with la-ea4 adapter.
There is no comparison in IQ OR AF SPEED.
The sharpness on the fe 200-600mm is superb and af speed can be stunning.
I absolutely love the lens.
FWIW, the 1.4 tc works superbly with it and sharpness remains excellent.

a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

BassmanBruce wrote:

I own both of those lenses and A7-r iii.
I use the 500mm mirror lens with la-ea4 adapter.
There is no comparison in IQ OR AF SPEED.
The sharpness on the fe 200-600mm is superb and af speed can be stunning.
I absolutely love the lens.
FWIW, the 1.4 tc works superbly with it and sharpness remains excellent.

This is exactly the info I am looking for. I use the same adapter, of course. To the best of my knowledge it is the only way to get AF with that lens. Thank you!🙏

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

a6k wrote:

I would be using it on my a6500 but any E mount ex... (show quote)

The Minolta 500 Reflex is a great lens - when in focus and using an appropriate shutter speed ! I use it on the A99 with great success - but NOT BIF. Your image here has motion blur and much noise and too much crop.

I cannot speak to the Sony 200-600 - but yes, it SHOULD be better than the Minolta for BIF at 10X the cost !
.

a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

imagemeister wrote:

The Minolta 500 Reflex is a great lens - when in focus and using an appropriate shutter speed ! I use it on the A99 with great success - but NOT BIF. You image here has motion blur and much noise and too much crop.

I cannot speak to the Sony 200-600 - but yes, it SHOULD be better than the Minolta for BIF.
.

Your critique points are all valid but I asked for first hand user experience with the 200-600. Thanks anyhow.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

BassmanBruce wrote:

I own both of those lenses and A7-r iii.
I use the 500mm mirror lens with la-ea4 adapter.
There is no comparison in IQ OR AF SPEED.
The sharpness on the fe 200-600mm is superb and af speed can be stunning.
I absolutely love the lens.
FWIW, the 1.4 tc works superbly with it and sharpness remains excellent.

Maybe you could show some of your BIF ? Thanks. I am here to learn.
.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

a6k wrote:

I would be using it on my a6500 but any E mount ex... (show quote)

I don't know if you are wide open or not but f/8 and ISO1600 is not what works with most cameras and lenses. There's simply too much noise. If I were to shoot this same bird standing next to you with my 500mm f/4 lens at f/4, the ISO would be 400 and I'd still enjoy a shutter speed of about 1/1600th. Plenty to stop action if you have the proper hand holding technique down pat. If the lens will open up more, then reduce the ISO and equal amount. It will be better. If you can only open up to f/6.3 then you can only reduce the ISO about a half a stop or ISO1200. It might be a little better. For most wildlife, you must have a lens that works well wide open so you can reduce the ISO and keep shutters fast.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

a6k wrote:

I would be using it on my a6500 but any E mount ex... (show quote)

I use the Sony 200-600 off of my a9 and a7r4. It is extremely sharp. Below is a grab shot of a Great Blue Heron preening with reflection, Sony a9, 200-600 mm lens at iso 6400, 493mm, 1/400 sec. f7.1 hand held. It has won several shows. I could post others but all I can say is this is the sharpest telephoto zoom lens I have ever owned. You will absolutely love the range of this lens. And, yes, I am 72 years old and I hand hold the lens all the time.
The second shot is of a Pileated Woodpecker taken with the a9, 200-600 mm at 600 mm, ISO 500, f6.3, 1/500 sec., again hand held. If you enlarge you can see the Woodpeckers tongue on the wood looking for grubs.
Good luck and keep on shooting until the end.

Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

I have the 200-600 that I use with my A9 and a7RIV. I am relatively satisfied with the lens but the not particularly overjoyed with how slow it is compared to the Sony primes. I will say that I have seen numerous examples of very sharp images produced with this lens when in the right hands. Just not sure that my hands are the right hands. Using proper techniques, you should be very happy with this lens, and for sure, the price is right. It seems like the example you provided, as others have said, demonstrates some motion blur. I downloaded your image and applied both Topaz DeNoise and Topaz sharpen AI. It cleans up nicely when viewed at the right distance. Pretty amazing software.

a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

jeep_daddy wrote:

I don't know if you are wide open or not but f/8 a... (show quote)

The Minolta 500/8 is a reflex lens. AKA "mirror". AKA catadioptric. It's like a telescope such as Mt. Palomar or a Celestron. It is a characteristic of that kind of lens that it cannot be stopped down. You get one and only one F stop.

Your comments are useful when using a normal lens but not in this case.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minolta_AF_Reflex_500mm_f/8

In any case, I was not asking for advice on how to use the Minolta. I was asking for first hand experience with the Sony FE 200-600mm.

a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

Nalu wrote:

...snip.. I downloaded your image and applied both Topaz DeNoise and Topaz sharpen AI. It cleans up nicely when viewed at the right distance. Pretty amazing software.

I would appreciate seeing your result either publicly or PM. Others might also benefit. I think the thread drift in this case is a good thing. I don't own that software but you might convince me! Please and thanks.

Baysitter11 Loc: Cincinnati

billnikon wrote:

I use the Sony 200-600 off of my a9 and a7r4. It i... (show quote)

Stunning photos, Bill. Love the heron.

Canisdirus

I have the lens and it is a top performer.
Extremely sharp and versatile.
What really sets it apart from most other long zooms is the throw.
I can zoom from 200mm to 600mm with one finger and never lose the framing. The zoom is butter smooth.

Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

a6k wrote:

I would appreciate seeing your result either publicly or PM. Others might also benefit. I think the thread drift in this case is a good thing. I don't own that software but you might convince me! Please and thanks.

Here you go. Applied both Topaz DeNoise and Topaz Sharpen in Photoshop at default settings. I think it is an improvement. You can be the judge. I am using DeNoise on almost all of my images. Better IMO than options in Photoshop or ACR. I use Topaz Sharpen AI with more discretion, as needed. Both great plug-ins and reasonably priced. And again, if you are looking for a relatively inexpensive way to get into a long lens for your Sony bodies, the 200-600 is a great way to do it. Alternatively, the 100-400 Gmaster is also a good option with a 1.4X converter. I can't say which one is better technically, however I have gotten some excellent results with the 100-400 with the 1.4x on it and will be a bit lighter than the 200-600.

(Download)

ronichas Loc: Long Island

a6k wrote:

I would be using it on my a6500 but any E mount ex... (show quote)

I have the Sony 100-400 4.5-5.6 lens. I used this in Africa with the Sony 1.4 tc on my Sony A7111 & Sony A6500. I was very happy with the results. While the Sony 200-600 wasn't available when I needed it, I think it is better glass than the 200-600, even with the tc which is made to work with the 100-400. This image is with the A7111, Sony 100-400 with 1.4 tc. F9, 1/640, iso 1600, at 560mm.